Signs Of Progress On State Budget

The House-approved deficit-reduction plan is on its way to the state Senate. And quite possibly on its way to Gov. John G. Rowland's desk, where it will be struck down by his veto pen.

That may lead some folks to conclude that the governor and legislature are back to square one, and that no progress has been made in coming to grips with the mushrooming budget deficit. That assumption would be incorrect.

At long last, the framework of the debate and the parameters of a solution have been set. The importance of achieving that shouldn't be underestimated. Until now, it's been next to impossible to locate Rowland's line in the sand because he kept rubbing it out and redrawing it. Now we know where it is -- sort of.

By the same token, Democrats hadn't been able to stop squabbling long enough to define exactly what had to be in a deficit-reduction plan for it to be acceptable to a majority of them. Now we know -- sort of.

The governor won't sign a budget adjustment package that calls for the rehiring of 2,800 laid-off state employees. Democrats won't approve a package without it.

Given that, it's time for the Rowland administration and the labor bargaining coalition to return to the negotiating table. Both sides need to take a deep breath, put aside their personal animosities, forget about who endorsed whom in the last election and who called whom by his first name and start talking again. If it takes a mediator, as Senate President Pro Tem Kevin B. Sullivan has suggested, so be it.

That precise point may not have been reached just yet. Theatrics and finger-pointing continue to get in the way of lucidity and the spirit of compromise.

On Thursday, Rowland blasted House Democrats for what he called ``political grandstanding,'' saying they ought to be embarrassed for being thralls of the labor unions.

Oh, and it's not ``political grandstanding'' to stage a dog and pony show, complete with easel and red marker, as Rowland did, right before the evening news? Moreover, the governor ought to be embarrassed that he can't seem to get past his antipathy of the unions and engage in fruitful discussions.

There has to be a labor deal; there needs to be a labor deal. The projected budget gap -- which now stands at $650 million this fiscal year and nearly $2 billion next year -- can't be closed without state employee concessions.

The unions know that and so do House Democrats, who, in effect, tried to goad the governor into returning to the bargaining table by including the workers' rehiring in their deficit-reduction plan.

Earlier, that provision had threatened to irreparably divide the Democratic caucus, along with cuts in town aid and health coverage for low-income adults. Indeed, House leaders halted the budget debate after two hours Thursday night when it appeared there weren't enough votes to adopt the package.

Then, two things happened to break the impasse. First, the governor taunted Democrats by waving his red marker in front of TV cameras and yelling veto.

``We decided we wouldn't be bullied and wanted to take a stand,'' said Rep. Patricia Widlitz of Guilford. ``To do nothing would have been absolutely irresponsible. None of us wanted to go home without a budget.''

Second, House Democrats held a no-holds-barred caucus that proved to be cathartic. After it became evident that none of three competing proposals could muster a majority of votes, House Speaker Moira K. Lyons -- who has been justifiably criticized for her exclusionary leadership style -- appealed to members to put aside their differences and join together for the good of the state.

For a few hours Thursday night and into Friday morning, House Democrats stopped arguing among themselves. The two dozen or so dissidents, who had opposed Lyons at every turn and wanted the spending cuts restored, decided that less-than-perfect would have to do. They agreed to end their holdout.

``It wasn't about Moira Lyons. Too many people are trying to make it that,'' said Rep. John Geragosian of New Britain. ``We tried to do what's best for our constituents.''

Now the action moves to the Senate, which is expected to vote on the plan Tuesday. By midweek, the governor will no longer be able to scold the Democrats for not rising to the challenge. By then they will have done so.

The ball is back in his court. And the unions'.

Michele Jacklin is The Courant's political columnist. Her column appears every Wednesday and Sunday. To leave her a comment, please call 860-241-3163.